ABSTRACT

This study tested whether appearance comparisons to fitspiration images on Instagram are reciprocally associated with positive body image, negative body image, and dietary restraint. Adult women were invited to complete study measures at the baseline (n = 3039), 4-month (n = 1453), and 8-month (n = 1329) follow-up. Cross-lagged panel analyses were computed to test hypothesized bidirectional relationships using full information maximum likelihood to handle missing data. Results identified a unidirectional relationship between positive body image and fitspiration comparisons: higher positive body image (body appreciation) predicted lower fitspiration comparisons at each time-point. Evidence for bidirectional associations between fitspiration comparisons, negative body image and dietary restraint was also found. Higher negative body image and dietary restraint predicted greater fitspiration comparisons, and higher fitspiration comparisons predicted greater negative body image and dietary restraint. The findings identify factors associated with appearance-related fitspiration comparisons. Social media literacy programs may benefit from addressing comparisons to fitspiration content depicted on Instagram.

摘要

这项研究测试了 Instagram 上健身图片的外观比较是否与积极的身体形象、消极的身体形象和饮食限制相互关联。邀请成年女性在基线 ( n  = 3039)、4 个月 ( n  = 1453) 和 8 个月 ( n  = 1329) 随访时完成研究措施。计算交叉滞后面板分析，以使用处理缺失数据的完整信息最大可能性来测试假设的双向关系。结果确定了积极的身体形象和健身比较之间的单向关系：较高的积极身体形象（身体欣赏）预示着每个时间点较低的健身比较。还发现了运动比较、负面身体形象和饮食限制之间双向关联的证据。较高的负面身体形象和饮食限制预示着更大的健身比较，而较高的健身比较则预示着更大的负面身体形象和饮食限制。研究结果确定了与外观相关的健身比较相关的因素。社交媒体素养计划可能会受益于与 Instagram 上描绘的健身内容的比较。